No offense latte, but it really sounds like you don't have much life experience. SQ is not just coming up with this stuff on her own. It has happened many MANY times where large birds (and even not so large birds) have came right up to the human and snatched the animal. And why would there be poison ivy on a sidewalk?!? Some people don't always take care of their foliage the way you may be thinking. It can grow on fences, trees, all sorts of stuff. She doesn't know if your sidewalks where you live are nice and manicured, or if there is the possibility of growth close to them. So don't gripe about that. Harnesses are not and should not ever be a failsafe in a humans mind. Animals slip out of even the best ones sometimes. Often actually. And the ones for rats are not meant as a safety device. They are just to kinda keep the rat within arms reach. As for dogs, they can, and often DO jump up to get what they want. What if you encounter a much larger, aggressive dog? People suck, and sometimes don't always contain their dogs on a leash, or in their yard. Will you be able to predict when a dog will be out running around? No. There are strays everywhere. So don't jump her case about that either. She is just always looking out for the safety of the rats. But you'll do what you want, I just hope you don't even have to make one of those sad goodbye posts because you wouldn't heed a warning. You have super cute rats, and it would be awesome to see them grow up over time. OK. Rant over.